Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 660 — page 5: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

Deadwood Dick, Jr.’s, Insurance Case. **No,” ‘‘Did he leave a fortune to Frank and Louise?” “é Yes,” ** Where did he make this fortune?” ‘‘In the oil regions of Pennsylvania— part in Titusville, and the balance at Mc- Clintic farm, where he-struck a spouter, a , reg’lar whooper! Thousand bar’ls a day. | Et tuk twenty men and ten hosses to cart et ‘away, to prevent spoilin’ the grass, And you'd hardly believe et, the | ines stuff puked out of the ground so fast that they actually had, to scoop et up in tin pails, buckets and tomato cans.” *‘Wonderful,” said Dick. mind. ‘** The matter for us to consider just now is, will we be able to find Frank Lester or not?” ‘*Thunderation! he must be found, ef I have to sell my farm. Hev you seen the gal?” ‘Yes, and questioned her rigidly, but she denies any knowledge of his whereabouts.” ‘* Humph!” | And Josiah took off his aged hat, and scratched his head. chit ‘‘Darned queer!” he said. ‘TI never liked that girl, from the time my brother adopted her.” “ Why not?” *‘*Cause, when she was goin’ ter school she uster hev the repertation of tellin’ more lies than any other scholar. She’d steal, too!” . ** What is her real name?” ' _ +» “Qouise Breck. Her father, Bill, was _ gent to prison fer burglary, and after he _ served his term and got out, he disappeared.” ‘*Did you ever see this Breck?” “Well, I guess. I’veseen him more times han I’ve got fingers and toes. Et war along time ‘ago, tho’, for he got sent up for ten rs.” ‘But, never - ** He must be an old man now?” oy Yas; about fifty.” , ‘‘ Would you know him if you were to see him?” 4 “‘T reckon I would. He's got a nnmber of pees defects by which I should recognize him, , darn it! man, part of his nose is gone He and "Rast Higgins, of Bath, got eee a scrap, and “Rast chawed off the end of is nose.” This was information that Dick decided “‘meant business,” so, leaving the loquacious Josiah free to go out and hunt up his coveted hard cider, Dick cogitated over his plans, more resolved than ever not to be thwarted in his purpose to run down his game and solve the mystery of young Frank’s disappearance. CHAPTER VI. FERRIS REPORTS. WHEN, at length, Ferris put in an ap- pearance, he found Dick awaiting his report, so he proceeded to relate his story. “IT got a room at the hotel opposite Louise’s, and left my door ajar, so that if she went out, I could see her.” **Did she go out?” ** No; but she had a caller.” ** Who was he?” “One of the worst crooks in New York, He hain't been out of Sing Sing more than two months,” — ‘‘But, his name?” ‘* Bill Breck.” “The blazes father of Louise ‘You don’t mean it?” “ But I do, though!” “Why, Bill Breck is a tough. Surely Louise don’t take after him?” “I’m not sosure. It wouldn’t surprise me much to have to arrest her.” “On suspicion?” ‘ Yes,” you say! Why, that is the “T don’t believe that she is the guilty one. ** All the same, I believe now that she has had all to do in Frank’s Cisappearance.”’ ‘Well, I'll not attempt to gainsay it; but take a tip from me before you go too far.” “What kind of one?” “‘Be sure you are right before you go ahead. Louise Lester has got money.” ** What of that?” “Why, if she is as wicked as you seem to think, shecertainly will have you knocked on the head if you attempt to criminate her.” Dick laughed. “No danger of that,” he assured. take all such risks.” ‘‘You may take them once too often.” ‘‘Oh, never mind that. How long did this Breck stay with Louise?” ** An hour. ‘** Did you ever hear any of their conversa- tion?” ‘*No; couldn’t possibly do that.” ‘* Well, I want you to go back and resume your vigil. I will give Pipes the money to meet your needs. To find out the true state of affairs between her and Breck must now be our first effort.” ‘“‘ All right;.1’11 do my best and report as soon as I find out anything of value to you.” So Dick gave him a sum of money suf- ficient for the present. “You can go, now,” he said. ‘‘ First, however, do you know where Breck hangs out?” ‘““T think so. It is down on the Bowery, Joe Ricketts’s saloon.” “Is he a slugger?” ‘* So ee say. He is an all-round tough, and his place is a resort for that class of men.” Ferris took his departure, to resume sur- veillance over Louise Lester. As for Deadwood Dick, he set about ar- ranging to visit the Ricketts saloon. He overhauled his trunk and soon had selected a rig that when donned would make him look as tough as the toughest. He then armed himself, and set off for the Bowery. CHAPTER VII. BILL BRECK, THE CROOK, JOE RIcKETTS’s saloon on the Bowery, be- low H—— street, to all goodly disposed people, is regarded as a fit place to stay away from. It is a resort for second-rate prize-fighters, and fakirs of all sorts, and is one of the sev- eral very ‘‘ hard” dens on the Bowery. When Dick arrived at the saloon, he found a few persons drinking at the bar and discuss- ing the relative merits of various prize-fighters is arrival did not attract any notice, for his make-up as one gf the toughs seemed to avert all suspicion. ‘Give me some booze,” he said, swagger- ing up to the bar. ‘‘I’m drier than a smoked herring.” But one man was present who he thought Ah ha be Breck, and the gang called him ill. He was past middle age—was tall and gaunt, but evidently possessed of great strength, His face was a repulsive one, being dis- figured by a number of livid scars, and a postion of his nose was wanting, as Josiah ad stated, | As Dick swallowed his beverage, this per- sonage advanced to the counter, ...‘ Hello, Blinker!” he exclaimed, sla Dick familiarly on the shoulder. ‘ d’ye git out?” “Get out of where?” . ‘Why, out of State’s Prison, to be sure!” “I never was in State’s Prison,” replied Dick; ‘‘ and, more than that, my name ain’t Blinker,” . ‘Git out! Ain’t you Jack Blinker, what was in Sing Sing when I was there?” “Not a bit of “Pi ing en “Well, you look like him. If you ain’t him, who are you?” ** Punch Peters is my name.” ‘Oh, ye’r’ a puncher, hey?” ‘«Yes, somewhat.” “Well, this is the home fer sluggers, and these are all good fellers, who have licked their man. Goin’ to treat?” ‘‘Dunno. ‘Bout as much as I can do to treat myself,” ‘‘ Better treat. doing it.” ‘“ Who are you?” ‘‘ My name is Bill Breck, andI am a cor- ker with my dukes!” ‘Never killed any dead men, did you, Mr. Breck?” ‘But, Iam liable to break your head if you don’t treat!” ‘* In that case, I reckon I’Jl be under the necessity of setting ‘em up,” Dick replied; so he ordered the bartender to set forth the bottle, and invited all hands up. By thus doing he gained the approval of the crowd, and avoided any trouble. He did not remain long at the saloon, but, leaving it, took up his position on the oppo- site side of the street where he could see Breck, when he came out. Here he watched and waited, resolving to follow him when he came forth. But no Breck appeared for a full hour. ‘‘’Tain’t likely he will come ’til he gets full,” thought Dick. . He was right, for when the ex-convict did issue from the saloon, he was so much under the influence of drink, that he could scarcely stand up. He was accompanied by another tough nearly as boozy as himself, and locking arms, the two reeled off, together. ‘‘ Now to find out where they go,” mut- tered Dick, as he shadowed ‘hem, From the Bowery, they turned off into Hester street, and thence into Mott, the metropolitan paradise’ of the heathen ~ Chinese Along this narrow, overcrowded thorough- fare they reeled, at last bringing up before a dirty-looking dwelling, the blinds of which were tightly closed. To all appearances, no one lived there. ! Breck took time to throw up what he had — drank, and then, mounting the steps, rang the bell. The door opened as if by mechanism, and Breck and his companion entered. Then the door closed. ‘‘ Well, that ends thzs trail for the present,” Dick mused. ‘‘I’ve trailed the ex-convict te his lair, I reckon. Now to find out the character of this house. It has a mysterious appearance,” : There was a grocery store on the next corner, whose owner was a German, and, withal, an intelligent fellow. | Mr. Snider was in, but was not particu- larly busy. ‘* Mr. Snider?” inquired Dick. ‘Yah. Dot vas me.” ‘*T wish to ask you a few questions.” “Vel, why don’t you ask ’em?” ‘Have you lived long in this street?” ‘“* Apoud two years,” | | ‘‘There is a house a few doors from here, with Tela blinds.” | se a : «Who owns it?” “‘T don’d vas know dot. ‘* Who keeps it?” | “‘T don’d know dot, neider. yoomans.” ‘“* What is the character of the house?” “* Bad—bad as you makes ’em.” ‘In what respect?” Dick asked. — “Vel, you know dem t’ings v’ot dey put ans door-yards—fences?” ees. , ‘Vel, dot vas v’ot dey call dot house, I see no fence there. I guess how dey must You'll save trouble by She vas & | it. Never heard of Blin- ( ¥ t seems so unnatural. ker.” | z have it on der inside, hey?” \ Ee oa lactic 3 Re SRE SP aay ioc | = a a ent ~~ GOMIGDOOKS..cor ———, : Pp ecbose ee — le a —_ J ap